Antibodies Flashcards

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1
Q

What are monoclonal antibodies?

A

-isolated antibodies

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2
Q

Why is the structure of an antibody called quaternary?

A

It contains 4 (more than 1) polypeptide chains

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3
Q

What two chain types make up an antibody?

A

1) the heavy (long) chain
2) the light (short) chain

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4
Q

What holds the antibody together?

A

Disulphide bridges

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5
Q

Where and how is the antigen-antibody complex formed?

A

At the antigen binding sites which are specific and complimentary to the tertiary shape of an antigen

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6
Q

Which part of the chain is variable/constant?

A

-The receptor binding site is constant as it doesn’t change between antibodies

-The antigen binding sites are variable as they’re different in different antibodies

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7
Q

How is the variable region variable?

A

The DNA sequence varies, meaning the mRNA sequence is varied, resulting in a different amino acid sequence, so different bonding in the tertiary structure so the shape is different

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8
Q

Why is the region variable?

A

To form antigen antibody complexes

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9
Q

What are the two jobs of antibodies?

A

-agglutination and to mark the pathogen for the phagocyte

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10
Q

What is agglutination?

A

Brings antibodies and pathogens together so the phagocytes only have to go to 1 site

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11
Q

How does targeting medication with antibodies work?

A

They attach a therapeutic drug to an antibody - making use of how specific the antibody is to the antigen

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12
Q

For what disease does targeted medication with antibodies use?

A

Cancer - more effective than radiotherapy/chemotherapy because less surrounding cells are damaged

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13
Q

How do monoclonal antibodies stop the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells?

A

They attach to the receptors on their specific cancer cells which block the chemicals that stimulate the uncontrolled growth

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14
Q

What type of antibody does breast cancer use?

A

Herceptin monoclonal antibody - direct

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15
Q

What is three advantages of using direct antibody therapy?

A

1) non toxic
2) highly specific
3) fewer side effects

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16
Q

What does indirect antibody therapy involve?

A

Attaching a cytotoxic to the monoclonal antibody - when it attached to cancer cells it kills them

17
Q

What are two advantages of using indirect antibody therapy?

A

1) can be used in smaller doses as targeted on specific sites
2) cheaper as small doses

18
Q

Why are monoclonal antibodies good at diagnosing?

A

They have over 100 diagnostic products on them

19
Q

Why are monoclonal antibodies used for diagnostic uses?

A

They produce a more rapid result

20
Q

What disease are monoclonal antibodies used to diagnose?

A

Men with prostate cancer

21
Q

What diseases produces unusually high levels of prostate specific antigen?

A

Prostate cancer

22
Q

How do the monoclonal antibodies early diagnose prostate cancer?

A

The monoclonal antibody reacts with antigens and measures the level of them - too high of PSA would indicate prostate cancer

23
Q

What hormone does the use of monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests rely on?

A
  • human chorionic gonadatroptin (hCG) produced by the placenta
    Which is present in pregnant women’s urine
24
Q

How is the hCG-antibody-colour-complex formed?

A

The monoclonal antibodies are linked to coloured particles and the hCG binds to the antibody

25
Q

What creates the control line on a pregnancy test?

A

The hCG-antibody-colour-complex moves along the strip until it is trapped by a different type of antibody

26
Q

Why are there concerns about the ETHICS of using mice in monoclonal antibody testing?

A

-you deliberately induce cancer in the mice for tumour cells so they suffer

27
Q

Why is informed consent considered an ETHICAL issue for use on monoclonal antibodies?

A

There were deaths associated with the treatment of multiple sclerosis so the patients need full knowledge of risks and benefits before using the drugs

28
Q

What was the march 2006 drug testing that resulted in multiple organ failures from T cells overproducing chemicals stimulating attack on body cells an example for which ethical issue?

A

The fact new drug testing has dangers so should be used with caution in clinical trials